Chapter 5: Getting Shy

Watching the promo video, Ding Sishu felt a chill run down her spine. The air conditioning in the room was just too good. No way it’s that much of a coincidence, right? Hahaha? Then she walked out and ran straight into the real deal, face-first.

Seeing Nian Qiao, Ding Sishu nearly blurted out “eighty yuan.” Before meeting Nian Qiao, for a very long time, Ding Sishu had equated that face with eighty yuan.

Luckily she held it together. She held it together for half a second. “I didn’t take viagra.”

The other woman worked in the entertainment industry — that was great, perfect for a rom-com meet-cute.

Like: “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

Or: exchange a smile, and everything goes unspoken.

How was she supposed to do a thing like that? On the way home, Ding Sishu’s blood was still pounding.

He He had been busy for two days. When she got home, she face-planted onto the bed. Then she felt something was off and lifted her head from the covers.

“You’re being awfully quiet today.” Seeing Ding Sishu sneaking around, she finally figured out what was wrong.

At this hour, her little cousin would normally be pumping iron with the fanfare of a New Year’s celebration.

“No, I’m not.”

Her toes were even tiptoeing.

He He patted her pockets like she was looking for a heart medication. She’d heard her cousin met Big Star Nian this afternoon. Let her pop a few pills before she hears whatever fresh “surprise” her little cousin had brought.

Ding Sishu really wanted to tell her cousin, but she didn’t know how.

“Sis, I got topped by Nian Qiao before.”

Hisss…

She could already picture it. Her sister’s expression would turn all pitying, and in a “daydreaming again” tone: “I know, sis. Get some sleep.”

“Sis, guess what?? Hahaha, my friend — not me — my friend also came back from abroad. She found a job, and it turned out her boss was the woman she had a one-night stand with overseas. Hahaha…”

The “my friend is totally me” routine. Too stupid.

“Sis, I saw the boss this afternoon…” Ding Sishu decided to play it safe.

He He took a deep breath, bracing herself. “Go on.”

“Do you think her sexual orientation…”

“Huh?” He He gave her cousin a serious look. Cheeks flushed, fidgeting. “You have a crush on her?”

“Forget it. She already has a rumored boyfriend.” He He said.

Ding Sishu froze.

Wait. Nian Qiao was bi?

“It’s not your fault. When I first saw Nian Qiao, she also stirred my little 36D heart.” He He tried to comfort her.

No, wait. A heart is a heart — why does she have to bring cup size into it? What do the two have to do with each other? Ding Sishu shot a glance at her cousin’s chest. Everything has to involve chest with her. Her cousin was seriously immodest. If she had 36Ds… she’d never wear a bra! Just! Leave! Them! Out! And! Proud!

“Nian Qiao’s looks really do appeal to both men and women. Especially that temperament — that icy aloofness that makes you want to tear her clothes off, pin her down, and lick her from head to toe…”

“SIS?!”

Her cousin smiled demurely. “So I’m saying, I totally get you.”

Ding Sishu pointed at her cousin, then at herself. Sis, your “get” and my “get” seem slightly different.

Her cousin grabbed Ding Sishu’s finger and made an OK sign, winking as if to say “got it, got it.”

Lying in bed, Ding Sishu pressed a hand to her heart. If she really got fired, she could always go carry bricks at a construction site.

QAQ

Ding Sishu wiped away a tear.

The next day, there were unread messages on her phone. Ding Sishu flipped the phone face-down, then peeked at it cautiously.

Messages from Tiantian. Those were even MORE deserving of caution. She was terrified of seeing a termination notice.

But being scared was pointless. If it was a termination notice, it would exist whether she looked at it or not, right?

Ding Sishu took a deep breath and bravely opened the unread messages.

Tiantian: “Dingding, are you up yet?”

Tiantian: “What do you want for breakfast? I got you chive pockets, mwah.”

Tiantian: “Got called to a meeting last minute. Your breakfast is on your desk.”

Ding Sishu exhaled half her relief.

She’d just buckled her belt when the other half of her relief got strangled by another text from Tiantian. “Starting today, you’re with Miss Nian.”

Huh?

She was going to see Nian Qiao again. Ding Sishu was a little nervous. She didn’t even eat the chive pocket.

Why the hell would she eat chives at a critical moment like this?!

But even if she wanted to overthink it, Nian Qiao didn’t have time for her. Ding Sishu was separated from Nian Qiao by two or three other bodyguards. The closest they got was when Nian Qiao held a press conference, and Ding Sishu stood behind her.

After a full day with Nian Qiao, Ding Sishu calmed down a bit. As long as Nian Qiao didn’t talk to her, she wouldn’t be nervous.

That evening, Nian Qiao was resting at her hotel. No night shift needed — Ding Sishu breathed a sigh of relief. But honestly? Even though Nian Qiao hadn’t spoken to her, every time Nian Qiao turned her head, Ding Sishu’s face would burn.

Nian Qiao had left too deep an impression. That night before… Nian Qiao was nothing like this respectable, proper version.

Heading to the restroom, she ran directly into Nian Qiao again. She’d thought today would pass without incident, but it took a sharp turn.

“Mi-Miss Nian.” Ding Sishu had just been thinking about Nian Qiao — speak of the devil. Why couldn’t she think about money instead?

Seeing Ding Sishu, Nian Qiao’s iciness thawed. She closed the door behind her and looked at Ding Sishu. In her high heels, she was half a head taller.

Nian Qiao crossed her arms — nothing like the cool, distant presence from earlier today.

Ding Sishu swallowed hard. Nian Qiao took a step forward; Ding Sishu took a step back.

“Nervous?”

“N-no.” Ding Sishu plopped herself down onto the toilet lid.

Nian Qiao’s lips curved, her makeup making her features even more delicate.

“Settling in okay?”

“Yes.”

“Settling into me?”

Agh! Could you NOT say things like that?! I’m getting shy here!

“If you want to stay, don’t tell anyone.” Nian Qiao leaned in until she was practically at Ding Sishu’s ear.

“Huh?” Feeling Nian Qiao’s warm breath, Ding Sishu’s legs went weak.

“Don’t tell anyone at all.”

Ding Sishu swallowed, finally piecing it together. Nian Qiao was talking about the one-night stand.

In front of Nian Qiao, Ding Sishu felt clumsy. Not long ago, they’d been in this exact position — face to face. And at first, Ding Sishu hadn’t been lying beneath her. She’d intended to top the other woman. But her head got hot, her vision went hazy, and suddenly she was pinned underneath.

After Nian Qiao left, Ding Sishu still hadn’t recovered. She touched her burning ear. Just now, when Nian Qiao had leaned in, she thought Nian Qiao was going to—

No. In a public restroom? That would be way too wild. Ding Sishu slapped her own cheeks, blaming her cousin’s “lick her head to toe” influence.

That night, aside from two on patrol, everyone else was called together by the captain. The captain was a woman, with an extremely stern expression. Even at this hour, still in full gear. Spotting the bodyguard beside Ding Sishu, she raised a hand and adjusted the buckle one-handed. “Stand at attention.”

The captain’s gaze swept over Ding Sishu, who subtly straightened her back.

“Ding Sishu?”

“Here.”

“I can tell at a glance.” The captain said. “Discharged this year?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Nice smooth transition from service to employment.” The captain said.

The meeting wasn’t long — about ten minutes. Mostly the captain going over precautions and the rest of the team introducing themselves. Twelve people in total. That was already a lot. Nian Qiao had gotten famous young, and several members of the team had been with her for years.

“I’ll say this again — new members, listen up. Old members, don’t get complacent. If your mindset goes wrong, correct it immediately. All of you signed security and confidentiality agreements. Beyond your daily duties, your job is to protect the boss’s privacy. Whatever you hear, whatever you see — I don’t care how you process it, it gets digested in your gut and stays there. Absolutely no leaking anything to the outside world. Don’t think seniority will save you. Even if you switch jobs, switch careers, I have ways to make sure you can’t work anywhere on the mainland.”

“Have I made myself clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Dismissed. We fly to Shanghai tomorrow.” With that, the female captain glanced at Ding Sishu. “You. Stay.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Once the other bodyguards had gone, the female captain looked at Ding Sishu again. “At ease.”

Almost by reflex, Ding Sishu snapped into the stance.

The captain smiled, and Ding Sishu realized she was joking. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and offered one to Ding Sishu. “You’re the youngest, and fresh on the job. If you run into anything you don’t understand, ask your senior colleagues.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Right — you just got out. A lot of habits are still readjusting.” The captain said. “Take your time. If you have any mental health issues, come find me.”

“Captain, were you in the service too?”

“Yes.” The captain said. “Our type is pretty in-demand in the security industry. You just have to find the right path.”

“I also heard about the cake incident. I’m not like those media types — they just write whatever gets eyeballs. I think your observation skills and reaction speed are first-rate. Don’t carry any mental baggage over it.” The captain said.

“In our industry, there’s a saying: if the bodyguard actually has to act, the event has already failed. In recent years, mainland security work has been pretty good. Big commercial events all hire professional security companies. They sweep every potential hazard on site. Look at the event we’re going to — the venue is already prepped. Our job is to observe the surroundings and do batch checks of the site.”

Ding Sishu nodded. “Understood, Captain.”

“Come talk to me if you have free time. Not just for pep talks — veterans who found jobs first sharing experience with veterans who came after.” The captain said.

The captain genuinely cared about Ding Sishu’s mindset. “Okay, Captain.”

After coming home, several prior veterans had reached out to Ding Sishu, telling her not to panic — the organization would arrange her resettlement. But since the organization hadn’t announced anything, most of them assumed she was just a regular discharge.

The Shanghai trip was for a promotional event. Ding Sishu waited outside the hotel entrance early in the morning. After watching a dozen or so passerby faces go by, she saw a very beautiful one.

It made her eyes light up.

It was her new boss, Nian Qiao.